The Life and Death Event at Eastern State Penitentiary, Fairmount Philadelphia, Things to do in Philadelphia, Eastern State Penitentiary

The Life and Death Event at Eastern State Penitentiary

‘Experience Life as it was in Prison’

Eastern State Penitentiary has many events schedule for their 2012 season and kicks off this years season with a weekend celebrating three dramatic new tours for the historical site’s popular “Hands-On” History program. Eastern State Penitentiary is located in the Fairmount neighborhood of Philadelphia and has been around since 1829, when it was first built.

The tours that are opening up at Eastern State Penitentiary have never been opened to the public execpt when their was a brief preview in 2011. Here are the three new tours that will be taking place this weekend :

“The Ruins of Death Row” – Visitors will get a tour of the collapsing exercise yards of Cellblock 15, which has been called “Death Row.” This part of the cellblock was the last to be added to Eastern State Penitentiary, which held some of Pennsylvania’s most violent and aggressive criminals. The exercise yard of Death Row has high walls and its own small guard tower.
“The Operating Room” – Visitors will get to see the long-abandoned surgical theater, which was once the prison’s state-of-the-art hospital. This section was completed in 1910 which vastly improved the surgical environment over the earlier space that was used, which was the inmate’s individual cell. There were more than 100 surgeries a year that were performed in this new operating room. Al Capone had his tonsils removed there in September 1929. By the 1950’s and 60’s, Eastern State’s medical wing was more sophisticated than other prison wards to where inmates from other facilities would be transferred to the penitentiary for treatment of challenging medical conditions.
“Families Behind Walls” – This place allows visitors the chance to step into the ground floor of one of Eastern State’s corner guard towers, discovering evidence of when these spaces once housed officers and their families. Wardens, guards, and their families set up residence in different parts of the penitentiary. You get to hear unique personal stories such as the group of brothers who served more than 150 years combined at Eastern State, a warden’s daughter’s wedding inside the cellblocks, and women who gave birth inside the prison’s walls.

Today, the spaces mentioned above are in a dismal state of ruin, but the massive surgical light still hangs in the middle of the room in the operating room. This can be seen in one of the pictures below.

With so many things to do in Philadelphia, The Life and Death event at Eastern State Penitentiary is not only a must see event, but is free with standard admission and you can do as many of the activities as you would like throughout the day.

After visiting Eastern State Penitentiary, and you are feeling a little hungry or thirsty, don’t forget the many restaurants and bars located in the surrounding area of the Fairmount section of Philadelphia. We have supplied a list below and Eastern State even has a pamphlet showing the eating establishments in the area, so ask for one.

Did you know?

Friday, March 30, 2012 (All day) – 2012 Season Sneak Peek – Eastern State Penitentiary is free all day for a sneak peek at the 2012 exhibits and tours.